Treasure Island

At the beginning of the game, one player is designated as Long John Silver, while the remaining players choose from a selection of pirates, each possessing a unique special ability. The game board, a detailed map of Treasure Island, is laid out, along with various tokens, rulers, and markers for tracking movement and searches. Players will also have individual mini-maps and note cards to record information.

The primary objective for the pirate players is to locate Long John Silver's hidden treasure on the island before he manages to escape. They have a limited number of turns, typically between 17 and 19, to interrogate Long John Silver, gather clues, and conduct searches. Long John Silver's goal is to mislead the pirates and prevent them from finding his treasure until the turn limit is reached, at which point he successfully escapes and wins.

During a turn, players take actions based on the number of stars indicated for that day on the game's timeline. Actions include a 'long run,' allowing a pirate to move up to six miles and mark their path with a ruler. A 'short move' allows movement up to three miles, which can be combined with a 'small search' using a blue token to draw a small circle on the map. Alternatively, a pirate can perform a 'large search' using a yellow token to draw a larger circle without moving. Movement is restricted by red lines and certain terrain features like volcanoes or mountains. Long John Silver also takes actions, primarily providing information to the pirates based on their interrogations.

If a pirate's search circle (either small or large) encompasses the exact location of Long John Silver's treasure, that pirate immediately wins the game. The game is competitive among the pirates, meaning only one pirate can claim victory by finding the treasure first. If no pirate finds the treasure by the end of the final turn, Long John Silver wins.

The game concludes either when a pirate successfully locates the treasure through a search action, resulting in an immediate win for that pirate, or when the designated number of turns (17-19) has elapsed. If the turns run out and the treasure has not been found, Long John Silver successfully escapes with his treasure, and he is declared the winner. The game also ends if Long John Silver is successfully interrogated and reveals the exact location of the treasure.